The federal government released this year's greenhouse gas inventory report on April 11.

Environment Minister Peter Kent insists this is a good news story, that Canada's 692 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 being down from 731 in 2005 demonstrates Canada is on track to de-coupling emissions growth from economic growth.

The Harper government will deliver their first majority government budget today and there is a lot of anxiety going into this budget with big cuts expected. While the government is denying it is an austerity budget, leaked documents have certainly set this tone with deep cuts to the public service, changes delaying eligibility for Old Age Security and more. For a broader look at what is being reported in the media about this budget, see Brent Patterson's blog.

I just returned from a lunch hosted by Environmental Defence featuring several speakers at a public eventbeing held tonight in Ottawa

The event, Northern Gateway: From Tar Sands to Tankers - In Whose Interest? sponsored by Environmental Defence and the West Coast Environmental Law, features Chief Jackie Thomas, Saik'uz First Nation, Yinka Dene Alliance, Gerland Amos, former elected chief councillor, Kitamaat Village, Haisla Nation, Arnie Nagy, United Fisherman's and Allied Workers' Union Michael Uehara, President, King Pacific Lodge and Josh Paterson, Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board has rejected an attempt by Corridor Resources to limit the impact of an environmental assessment process on their license to drill in the Gulf of St Lawrence (you can read the decision here).

A bit of background: